Drone-based affordable mass munitions

The grant opportunity titled EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM is part of the European Defence Fund (EDF), focusing on developing affordable drone-based munitions, specifically loitering munitions and small Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS) for ground combat indirect fire. The aim is to enhance EU defence capabilities in light of current security challenges and the lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine.

Eligible applicants must form consortia consisting of at least two legal entities from different EU Member States or associated countries, with a specific emphasis on involving SMEs and start-ups additionally targeting entities from Ukraine. The grant is structured as actual costs grants, covering up to 100% of eligible expenses. The application type is a single-stage open call, with a total budget of €49 million and a per-proposal cap of up to €9.8 million. The submission period opens on 18 February 2025 and closes on 16 October 2025.

The target sectors include defence and unmanned systems, with a focus on developing technologies that enable low-cost, mass-producible systems. The project stages involve study, design, development, prototyping, and testing, contributing to achieving high technology readiness levels (TRL 7).

While specific co-funding requirements may not be mandated, the consortium is encouraged to integrate support for third-party projects through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), which can provide additional funding of up to €60,000 per recipient for a maximum of six months.

The expected impact of this initiative includes enhancing engagement capabilities, integrating lessons from the Ukrainian conflict, and advancing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The proposals are encouraged to focus on developing technologies for autonomy in flight control, target acquisition, and operational integration into current military systems.

The call is significant for fostering innovation, enhancing collaboration among Member States, and reducing dependency on non-EU technologies in defence. The comprehensive nature of the proposal aims to address affordability and resilience in military capabilities while promoting the involvement of smaller entities in the defence industry.

This is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) focusing on the development of drone-based affordable mass munitions, specifically loitering munitions and small Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS) for ground combat indirect fire. The call aims to address the need for affordable and mass-producible effectors in light of the current international security situation and the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The goal is to enhance the engagement capabilities of EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries by extending the range and precision of land-based precision strike capabilities.

The call, titled "Drone-based affordable mass munitions," falls under the "Spin-in EDF development actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2025-DA-SI)" and is designated as EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM. It is a single-stage call with a budget of 49,000,000 EUR. The opening date for submissions is 18 February 2025, and the deadline is 16 October 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The expected impact includes improving engagement capabilities, gaining technological superiority, fostering the integration of Ukrainian war lessons, enhancing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), reducing non-EU dependencies, and increasing opportunities for smaller actors in the defence sector. The expected outcome is to support innovation and enable small companies to demonstrate innovative technologies relevant to drone-based affordable mass munitions, with financial support to third parties (FSTP) included as part of the grant.

The specific objective is to study, design, develop, prototype, and test new generations of affordable mass munitions for ground combat indirect fire, focusing on loitering munitions and small UCAS operating for tactical and/or operational level effects. These systems should be capable of being deployed in massive quantities, preferably with swarm capability, and manufactured at scale and speed relevant to ensure battlefield superiority.

The scope of the call concerns loitering munitions and small UCAS for tactical and/or operational level effects. Loitering munitions are defined as munitions able to remain over a designated area seeking targets and be assigned/reassigned for selective engagement. Small UCAS are defined as recoverable unmanned aircraft able to carry and drop lethal payloads for tactical and/or operational level effects and return to the launch or other dedicated position after their mission.

Proposals are expected to tackle at least one of the following solutions:

5-10 km short-range loitering munition or small UCAS against infantry and other soft and armored targets.

10-50 km mid-range loitering munition or small UCAS against soft and armored targets.

50-200 km long-range loitering munition or small UCAS against soft and armored targets.

Proposals must address:

Affordable technologies for autonomous flight control, autonomous target acquisition, and autonomous engagement capability (including lethal payloads that are easily integrable into the platform, safely handled, and designed for maximum performance), with meaningful human control.

Ability to operate in heavily contested electronic warfare environments.

In addition, proposals should address:

The possibility of being assisted by machine learning/Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Technologies for collaborating/swarm capabilities with other Loitering Munitions and small UCAS.

Designs that are easily upgradeable (e.g., by use of modularity and standards) to utilize technological development and adjust to changes in the operating environment.

Study and design of payloads with smart target-seeking and fuze features using new or already existing technologies.

Furthermore, proposals may address:

Integration into current battle management systems using relevant standards.

Proposals must not address:

Fully autonomous weapon systems.

The proposals must also describe how FSTP is planned to be used and how entities with relevant expertise are expected to contribute to their implementation.

Eligible activities include:

Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies (optional).

Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services, and solutions (mandatory).

Design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such design has been developed, including partial tests for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment (mandatory).

System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology (mandatory).

Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology (mandatory).

Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology (optional).

Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology (optional).

Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies (optional).

Mandatory tasks include:

Studies: Feasibility studies concerning identified technologies and their manufacturing possibilities for mass production, including security of supply of critical components and raw materials.

Design: Preliminary definition and design of the proposed components and technologies for Loitering Munition and small UCAS. Detailed definition of the proposed components and technologies. Design activities concerning identified technologies and its manufacturing possibilities for mass production, taking into consideration security of supply of critical components and raw materials.

Prototyping: Creation of the weapon system based on the technological solutions identified. Following the track of keeping the cost of the prototype reasonable (purpose to execute for mass production). Develop technology, which matches TRL 7.

Testing: Testing of the defence technological solution or mature product in the relevant environment.

Additional tasks include:

Integrating Knowledge: Analysis and integration of Ukrainian war lessons learned, in particular the use of Loitering Munitions and small UCAS in the different warfare scenarios. Identification and assessment of technological solutions that can be produced in mass and at an affordable cost.

Concerning the implementation of the FSTP, the proposals must cover the following tasks:

Organize at least one call for FSTP in support of the mandatory activities: studies, design, prototyping or testing. Prepare documentation, organization, selection, and award of recipients of the FSTP call.

Select and award recipients of FSTP.

Provide technical mentoring for the recipients of FSTP.

Provide the third parties with necessary knowledge on doing business in the defence domain, in particular with respect to protection of IPR, IPR strategies, export control, and other specificities of the defence sector.

Provide networking and cooperation activities between the EDTIB and third parties, as well as the establishment of additional measures to support the business case and innovative ideas of recipients of FSTP within the scope of the call topic.

Describe how the support to recipients of FSTP may be contributing to the development and analysis of current and future CONOPS and tactics, analysis support and red teaming, war-gaming and testing activities in relevant conditions or other tasks deemed relevant for the proposal.

The proposed technologies and future products should meet specific functional requirements, including range, flight duration, usability, sensor technologies, performance improvement based on data analysis, integration into command and control systems, affordable cost, communication link resistance, navigation in GNSS-denied environments, and swarming capability.

The FSTP includes specific requirements such as organizing at least one call for third parties, selecting a target of a minimum of 3 and up to 10 entities, supporting each recipient with up to EUR 60,000 for a maximum of a 6-month period, providing opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and technologies, and fostering future involvement in the European defence community.

The call emphasizes the importance of integrating Ukrainian war lessons, promoting open innovation through financial support to third parties (FSTP), and strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

In essence, this call is about developing the next generation of affordable, mass-producible drone munitions to give EU and associated countries a battlefield edge. It's not just about building drones; it's about making them smart, resilient, and easy to integrate into existing defence systems. A key part of this is bringing in smaller companies and startups, especially those in Ukraine, to inject fresh ideas and technologies into the European defence industry. The call aims to create a more robust and innovative defence sector that can quickly adapt to changing threats and maintain a technological advantage.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call targets consortia that should reach out to third parties across the EU, EDF associated countries and Ukraine, in particular SMEs and start-ups. The primary applicants are expected to be from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The call aims to strengthen possibilities to involve smaller players that would otherwise not have the means to access EDF actions, thereby further enhancing innovation capacity and competitiveness of the European Defence Industrial and Technological Base (EDTIB).

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. Financial support to third parties (FSTP), also known as cascade funding, is included as part of the grant.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The consortium is requested to reach out to third parties across the EU, EDF associated countries and Ukraine, in particular SMEs and start-ups.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States, EDF Associated Countries, and Ukraine. Third parties across the EU, EDF associated countries and Ukraine, in particular SMEs and start-ups, are specifically mentioned as targets for outreach by the applying consortium.

Target Sector: The target sector is defence, specifically focusing on ground combat capabilities, loitering munitions, and small Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS). The call aims to develop affordable mass munitions for ground combat indirect fire. It also targets innovation opportunities and enabling small companies to demonstrate innovative technologies relevant to drone-based affordable mass munitions.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, EDF Associated Countries, Ukraine.

Project Stage: The project stage encompasses multiple levels of maturity, including study, design, development, prototyping, and testing. The call topic aims to study, design, develop, prototype and test new generation of affordable mass munitions. The technology should match TRL 7.

Funding Amount: The budget for the topic EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM is EUR 49,000,000. The financial support to third parties (FSTP) should support each recipient with up to EUR 60,000 for a maximum of a 6-month long period.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. Additionally, third parties selected through the FSTP mechanism will receive financial support, demonstration opportunities, and support services for improving their solutions.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-financing declaration is one of the application form templates, so co-funding may be required.

Summary: This European Defence Fund (EDF) call, EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM, focuses on the development of affordable mass munitions, specifically loitering munitions and small Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS), for ground combat indirect fire. The call aims to address the need for modern, cost-effective defence capabilities in light of the current international security situation and the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. The call encourages the integration of innovations from SMEs and start-ups, particularly those in the EU, EDF Associated Countries, and Ukraine, through financial support to third parties (FSTP). The selected projects should cover feasibility studies, design, prototyping, and testing activities, with a focus on achieving mass production and battlefield superiority. The total budget for this topic is EUR 49 million, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The call seeks to improve engagement capabilities, gain technological superiority, foster the integration of Ukrainian war lessons learned, enhance the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), and reduce non-EU dependencies in the field of loitering munitions and small UCAS. The consortium should organize at least one call for third parties selecting target of minimum 3 and up to 10 entities. Each recipient of FSTP should be supported with up to EUR 60 000 for a maximum of a 6-month long period.